Does God Exist? A Simple Apologetic 3 Parts A and B

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1 A Simple Apologetic 3 Parts A and B Heb 11:6 6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. ESV As Hebrews 1:6 states for a person to come to God it is a prerequisite that they believe He exists It is the task of the apologetic evangelist to provide the proof of God s existence in a rational and compelling way efficiently defeating any objections or questions that someone might have Conversely, It is the task of the Holy Spirit to move in that person s life according to God s will removing doubt and instilling faith persuading them that through God s grace, they might believe Today we re going to look at ways that we might logically and intelligently provide proofs to the questioning person, that when in concert with the moving of the Holy Spirit, they might come to faith in Christ First, in Part One, we will speak of the absurdity of life without God Secondly, in Part Two, we ll take note of four primary proofs and lines of thought, that have been applied down through the centuries as evidence for God s existence Part One I. The Absurdity of Life Without God a. The definition of absurd is: Utterly, or obviously senseless illogical or untrue contrary to all reason or common sense i. Some synonyms for Absurd are: logical or sensible i ii. It would be right to say that something that is absurd, violates the established principles of logic and is therefore irrational b. In theology, William Lane Craig points out, under the study of the doctrine of man, there is a phrase that is used, The human predicament That is to say the significance of human life in a post-theistic universe ii Craig goes on to say: The apologetic for Christianity based on the human predicament is an extremely recent phenomenon, associated primarily with Francis Schaeffer. Often it is referred to as cultural apologetics because of its analysis of post-christian culture. iii c. Shaeffer explains in his book, The God Who is There, that a shift has taken place in society d. Before this shift most, even those that did not know Christ had primarily the same worldview the same way of looking at, and understanding the world around them e. Previous to this transition, if someone was to preach the gospel the preacher and the hearers would have somewhat of the same mindset therefore the preacher, applying classic proofs for the existence of God could effectively communicate to their hearers. i. People thought that good was opposite of bad ii. Right was opposite of wrong iii. This was because antithetical relationships made sense to them Antithesis meaning: A person or thing that is the direct opposite of someone or something else A contrast or opposition between two things 1

2 iv. Before the shift, people thought of the world in those terms good and bad were easily distinguishable Francis Shaeffer points out that in classical apologetics, people s presuppositions were rarely taken into account. The one offering the proofs for the validity of our faith rarely took into account people s worldview. Shaeffer says of this, So, if a man got up to preach the gospel and said, Believe this, it is true, those who heard would have said, Well, if that is so, then its opposite is false. The presupposition of antithesis pervaded men s entire metal outlook. iv Pay attention to Schaeffer s next comment We must not forget that historic Christianity stands on the basis of antithesis. Without it, historic Christianity is meaningless. The basic antithesis is that God objectively exists in contrast (in antithesis) to His not existing. Which of these two are the reality, changes everything in the area of knowledge and morals and in the whole of life. v. Francis Shaeffer calls this shift the line of despair 1. Before this line was drawn people in the west thought in terms of absolutes opposites good and bad right and wrong 2. Yet on the other side of this line of despair people began to think differently about truth 3. Truth became opinion, or experience or culture, truth was no longer truth 4. After the line was drawn, Shaeffer posits, a new way of thinking spread from PHILOSOPHY to ART from ART to MUSIC from MUSIC to GENERAL CULTURE and finally even to THEOLOGY The line of despair PHILOSOPHY ART MUSIC GENERAL CULTURE What does this mean for us as believers? _THEOLOGY_ f. We have to assume that when we speak to people about Christ in most cases we are speaking a foreign language a language that reflects a world where right and wrong are opposites and living a life apart from God is absurd i. We have to take into account the hearer s worldview how they see the world or we will not make any sense to them ii. If we don t do this we cannot communicate effectively In some ways this shift in cultural thought reflects that of the first century, as the Apostle Paul noted In First Corinthians, chapter one, verse eighteen. 1 Cor 1:18 18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. KJV Futility leads to hopelessness Hopelessness leads to despair 2

3 This is the downward spiral, upon which those born of the flesh find themselves g. Life without God is logically absurd, owing to the fact that in due course there is no meaning no ultimate purpose i. Those that either do not believe in His existence or have some vague concept of God and heaven with very little concept of sin and holiness (which are antithetical) endeavor to find their purpose in things that are far lower than their Creator ii. They might attempt to find this purpose in the job they have it may be in their family for a few, it may be in their celebrity iii. Yet in the end, all that does not answer the longing they have inside for a fulfillment beyond their understanding iv. They keep climbing grasping obtaining and all ends in futility Part Two Rom 1:21 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened ESV The Grace New Testament Commentary says of this God s wrath allows sin to sink the sinner deeper, causing a spiritual stupor. Thus, what causes this futility and darkness that only God can remove is sin that takes over and degrades humanity. v v. In the Greek the phrase became futile is one word it is passive and means, to be delivered up to vanity 1. In the Kittle s Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, this delivering up, is said to be, Not to nothing, but to the nothingness of man vi 2. This is the situation Man is nothing without God II. Four Primary Proofs for the Existence of God a. There are four classical proofs for God s existence that have been used over the centuries b. Some of these proofs are still employed today in a variety of ways i. The Ontological Argument ii. The Cosmological Argument iii. The Teleological Argument iv. The Moral Argument c. It is important to note that in classical logic, arguments must have a major premise, a minor premise and a conclusion we are not simply talking about debate here we re talking about logical arguments, who s conclusions must not violate any of the laws of classical logic d. The Ontological Argument Among the four this position is the one that you will least likely use, but I thought it was important to show you for the sake of apologetical history concerning the classical arguments for the existence of God 3

4 i. Ontology is the area of metaphysics concerned with the nature of being vii The Baker Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics states that Ontology is the study (logos) of being (ontos). It is the study of reality. It answers the question "What is real?" as ethics answers the question "What is right?" as aesthetics answers the question, "What is beautiful?" and epistemology answers the question, "What is true?" viii ii. In Ontology, God is seen as a Necessary Being, where humankind are seen as Contingent Beings 1. A necessary being is a living, self-aware thing that must necessarily exist for all other things to exist, because that necessary being is the author of the universe and the initial cause of all things material ix 2. A contingent being is one that is dependent Contingency: In philosophy, any event or object that is dependent on another event or object for it to happen or exist. This is in contrast to a necessary event or object, which happens or exists independently of other events and objects. x iii. The Ontological Argument attempts to prove from the very concept of God that God exists: if God is conceivable, then He must actually exist xi iv. This argument was formulated by Anselm and defended by Scotus, Descartes, Spinoza, Leibniz, and, in modern times, Norman Malcolm, Charles Hartshorne, and Alvin Plantinga, among others xii The Ontological Argument is.an argument for the existence of God that argues from the idea of God itself to the reality of God xiii v. Anselm ( ) wanted to find a single argument that would prove not only that God exists, but also that He has all the superlative (matchless) attributes Christian doctrine ascribes to Him xiv William Lane Craig says that Having almost given up the project, Anselm landed upon the following reasoning. God is the greatest conceivable being. This is true by definition, for if we could conceive of something greater than God then that would be God. So nothing greater than God can be conceived. It is greater to exist in reality than merely in the mind. Craig continues, Anselm gives the example of a painting. Which is greater: the artist s idea of the painting or the painting itself as it really exists? Obviously the latter; for the painting itself exists not only in the artist s mind, but in reality as well. Similarly, if God existed only in the mind, then something greater than Him could be conceived, namely, His existing not only in the mind, but in reality as well. Therefore, God exists. xv Another way of putting this, says Anselm, is the following: a being whose non-existence is inconceivable is greater than a being whose non-existence is conceivable. But God is the greatest conceivable being. Therefore, God s non-existence must be inconceivable (using classical laws of logic) There is no contradiction (according to the law of non-contradiction) involved in the notion. Therefore, God must exist. xvi vi. Douglas Groothuis, in his Christian Apologetics, A Comprehensive Case for Biblical Faith, states that, For this argument, God s existence is not merely possible or probable or very likely, but is logically guaranteed. xvii 1. The Ontological Argument is A Priori 2. This means that this is not dependent upon experience, xviii where something that is A Posteriori, something that comes after, is dependent upon experience 4

5 Groothuis says of this, It is a priori (depending on no debatable empirical conditions); it is deductive in form, thus making its conclusion certain and not merely probably; and its conclusion is metaphysically superlative: there must be a Perfect Being xix Now let s move on to the Cosmological Argument e. The Cosmological Argument It has been said that, Unless there were an infinite being, there could be no finite beings xx i. Thomas Aquinas ( ) an Italian Catholic Priest, philosopher, and theologian, in his Five Ways argument, in the Second Way, which dealt with causation stated this, everything that begins to exist, must have a cause ii. This is also known as the Kalam Cosmological Argument having been developed primarily by Muslim theologians in the Middle Ages The logical syllogism goes thus: Whatever begins to exist must have a cause The universe began to exist Therefore, the universe has a cause iii. If this is the case it put us in a position of choice 1. We can either believe in an infinite number of causes a cause brings something forth, which brings something forth, which brings something forth, ad infinitum 2. Or, we must come to a point where we reach a First Cause that cause which brought forth all other things 3. This is known as the Law of Causality iv. This is where we reach that concept mentioned before of a Necessary Being one upon which all other existence and contingent beings, depends 1. This being depends on nothing, or no one else for its existence, and therefore is necessary 2. This brings forth another question and decision which is more logical? a. Do we have a self-existent universe meaning that matter is infinite b. Or, do we have a self-existent, personal being, that we know as God For a couple of moments let s talk about the difference between something that is self-existent as opposed to self-created v. Self-Created vs. Self-Existent 1. Self-created means exactly what it states that something or someone brought itself forth from nothing 2. R. C. Sproul says of this that, Self-creation is a concept that is, in philosophical language, analytically false. xxi Sproul had mention earlier in his book Defending You Faith, An Introduction to Apologetics, that, The premise that every effect must have a cause, is a formal or analytical truth, which means simply that it is true by definition. 5

6 Sproul continues, The idea of self-creation, when examined in this fashion, shows itself to be false by definition. xxii 3. The Law of Non-Contradiction states that, contradictory statements cannot both be true in the same sense at the same time, e.g. the two propositions "A is B" and "A is not B" are mutually exclusive. Of this Sproul, speaking of the law of non-contradiction, states, As such, it is a tool of logic that we can apply to the idea of a self-created universe. In order to affirm a self-created universe, one must reject the law of non-contradiction. Plainly, the second possibility of explaining the universe that it is self-created is self-referentially absurd. For something to create itself, or to be its own effect as well as its own cause, it would have to exist before it existed. The universe, to be self-created, would have to be before it was. xxiii The same, in a certain respect, can be said for God This is why it is important to express Him as being eternal having ever existed God s eternality is not a logical contradiction If we were to say God was self-created this would be no less a contradiction then to say that the universe is self-created Therefore, God must be eternal vi. The Big Bang Theory 1. We can use the Big Bang Theory for a proof of the existence of God 2. This is because, according to the theory, the universe, at some time, began to exist 3. If we accept the premise, as stated by Aquinas, that everything that begins to exist must have a cause we can say that the universe had a cause as well 4. The big question about the Big Bang, then, would be what was the cause? And, If the universe was moving toward disorganization (as the theory states), how did it become organized in the first place? xxiv 5. What caused the Big Bang? Sproul states that, A thing at rest tends to stay at rest unless some outside force is applied to it. And once it begins moving, it is going to stay moving unless its motion is retarded by some other outside force. Again, what caused the Big Bang? Biblical Christianity, Sproul states, has the answer to that question. Christianity s answer is the doctrine of Creation: we have a self-existent, eternal being who has the power of motion, who has the ability to move that which is not moving. That is what Aristotle understood when he talked about the unmoved mover. He understood that there has to be an origin to motion, and that that which has the origin of motion must have the power of motion within itself, just as it must have the power of being within itself. Sproul concludes, And that is why we assign these attributes to God. xxv Let s sum up the Cosmological Argument Aquinas stated in his Five Ways that, Everything that begins to exist must have a cause Independently, in the Middle Ages, the Kalam Theory was formulated in the Muslim cuture Therefore, we can either have an infinite number of causes or a First Cause that brought forth all other things This is known as the Law of Causality The Cosmological Argument would hold to an infinite being that is logically necessary - one upon which all other existence and contingent beings, depends Christianity states that we serve a self-existent, eternal God and that a self-existent universe violates the law of non-contradiction, and is illogical and absurd 6

7 Further, is it more logical to hold to an infinite number causes progressing back or the premise of an infinite being, the necessary being the unmovable mover that caused all things? Finally, we can use the Big Bang Theory to provide a starting point in our defense of the existence God Now on to our third proof for the existence of God f. The Teleological Argument The Teleological Argument is, An argument for the existence of God based on the seemingly purposeful order of the universe that suggests the world is the work of a Master Architect rather than a result of chance xxvi The logical syllogism would go thus All designs imply a designer There is great design in the universe Therefore, there must be a Great Designer of the universe xxvii i. Craig says, The implication of the design hypothesis is that there exists a Cosmic Designer who finetuned the initial conditions of the universe for intelligent life xxviii ii. The Creator brought everything into existence ex nihilo and engineered the structure and function of the universe xxix Jer 10:12 12 It is he who made the earth by his power, who established the world by his wisdom, and by his understanding stretched out the heavens. ESV iii. The term teleological comes from the word, teleology which means, The doctrine of design and purpose in the material world 1. The word is from the Greek word Telos, which can be defined as end, or goal 2. This speaks to the premise that the things that we observe of the material universe, or for that matter humanity suggest design and design suggests a goal or purposeful end 3. If we accept this premise, the observable universe and humanity could not be logically the result of random events, it s not survival of the fittest 4. As an aside, the phrase, Natural Selection, ironically suggests a selector iv. Enlightenment apologist William Paley ( ) suggested a Watchmaker Analogy which is a very well-known argument using natural theology 1. The Apostle Paul used natural theology as a base for his statement, So they are without excuse (Rom 1:20) Where he stated that all should have recognized the invisible attributes of God through those things that had been made (Rom 1:18-23) This was a Teleological argument from natural theology Paley s supposition The classic statement of the teleological argument is that of William Paley in his Natural Theology. Paley likened the universe to a watch. Like a watch, he said, the universe consists of many complex parts 7

8 functioning in harmony towards some useful end. In a watch the various parts are ordered such that they measure time; in the universe, such that they support life. The two are, in this respect, similar. This comparison forms the basis of Paley s argument for intelligent design. In the case of a watch we take these properties to constitute evidence of design. If we were to stumble across a watch in a natural environment, lying on a heath (moorland), to cite Paley s example, then we would instantly know, because of its order and complexity, that it was designed. Order and complexity are the marks of design. xxx Wayne Grudem, in his Systematic Theology, An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine states, The Teleological Argument is really a subcategory of the Cosmological Argument. It focuses on the evidence of harmony, order, and design in the universe, and argues that its design gives evidence of an intelligent purpose (the Greek word telos means end or goal or purpose ). Grudem continues, Since the universe appears to be designed with a purpose, there must be an intelligent and purposeful God who created it to function this way. xxxi 2. It is not only William Paley s and Wayne Grudem s premise, but the testimony of King David, the Apostle Paul, Thomas Aquinas, and people like you and I as believers, that the material universe and all humankind testify of the handiwork or God Speaking to those at Lystra, the Apostle Paul spoke of the testimony or creation, declaring Acts 14: In past generations he (God) allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways. 17 Yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness." ESV King David sang, even the heavens declare God s glory Ps 19: The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands. 2 Day to day pours forth speech, And night to night reveals knowledge. NASU Now on to our final classical proof of the existence of God g. The Moral Argument Grudem states that, The Moral Argument begins from man s sense of right and wrong, and of the need for justice to be done, and argues that there must be a God, who is the source of right and wrong who will someday mete out justice to all people. xxxii The Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms has for the Moral Argument, The argument first used by Immanuel Kant, which claims that morality (humans seeking the highest good ) presupposes the existence of God, who is both the lawgiver and the judge who will reward humankind s moral striving. xxxiii The logical syllogism would go thus 8

9 If God does not exist, objective moral values and duties do not exist. Objective moral values and duties do exist. Therefore, God exists xxxiv The Apostle Paul alluded to this moral order that God has placed in all his human creatures in Romans, chapter two, verses fourteen through sixteen Rom 2: For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them 16 on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus. ESV i. In these verses the apostle seems to suggest that those who do not have the benefit of the law given to the Hebrew people are still held accountable based upon what their Creator God has placed within them The ESV Study Bible says of this, Some have suggested that these verses speak of Gentile obedience that leads to salvation (cf. VV. 7, 10). It is clear, however, that Paul explains here why Gentiles who do not have the law will face judgment apart from the law (see V. 12). The reason it is fair for God to judge them for their evil is that God s law is written on their hearts, so that their consciences attest to what is right and what is wrong in their behavior. Continuing, the ESV cautions, Paul does not imply that the testimony of human conscience is always a perfect moral guide (for people have conflicting thoughts) about their moral behavior, sometimes excusing themselves from wrongdoing), but the very existence of this testimony is sufficient to render people accountable to God. xxxv ii. It was C. S. Lewis that gave one of the most compelling defenses concerning the moral argument in his book, Mere Christianity The moral argument of Lewis can be summarized: 1. There must be a universal moral law, or else: (a) Moral disagreements would make no sense, as we all assume they do. (b) All moral criticisms would be meaningless (e.g., The Nazis were wrong. ). (c) It is unnecessary to keep promises or treaties, as we all assume that it is. (d) We would not make excuses for breaking the moral law, as we all do. 2. But a universal moral law requires a universal Moral Law Giver, since the Source of it: (a) Gives moral commands (as lawgivers do). (b) Is interested in our behavior (as moral persons are). (Continued) 3. Further, this universal Moral Law Giver must be absolutely good: (a) Otherwise all moral effort would be futile in the long run, since we could be sacrificing our lives for what is not ultimately right. (b) The source of all good must be absolutely good, since the standard of all good must be completely good. 4. Therefore, there must be an absolutely good Moral Law Giver xxxvi From these proofs we can be confident that not only God exists But as we equip ourselves with knowledge of them We can become effective instruments of communication to the glory of God Yet it is imperative that we understand that learning to defend our faith is not optional It is a mandate from the Lord Himself 9

10 We must take seriously the call of the Great Commission However, if we don t educate ourselves in apologetic principles We don t fully understand the seriousness of this mandate Consequently, the Lord is waiting for us By His grace He equips Nevertheless, we have a part in this process to be diligent to show ourselves approved The truth claims of our faith are rationally provable And will endure any assault We are to take these proofs to destroy any argument and then allow the persuasive power of the Holy Spirit to do what we cannot do End Notes i - 2/8/2013 ii William Lane Craig; Reasonable Faith, Christian Truth and Apologetics, 3 rd Edition; Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1984, 1994, 2008; p 65 iii Ibid; p 65 iv Francis Shaeffer; The Completer Works of Francis A. Schaeffer, A Christian Worldview; Volume One, A Christian View of Philosophy and Culture; Book One, The God Who Is There; Westchester, IL: Crossway Books, First Printing 1982, P 8 v Grace New Testament Commentary; Copyright 2010 by Grace Evangelical Society. All rights reserved, PC Study Bible version vi The Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, 10 Volumes; Copyright By Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. All rights reserved, PC Study Bible version vii Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms, by Stanley J. Grenz, David Guretzki, and Cherith Fee Nordling; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1999; P 85 viii Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics, 1999 by Norman L. Geisler; Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, p 564 ix - 2/9/2013 x Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms, by Stanley J. Grenz, David Guretzki, and Cherith Fee Nordling; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1999; P 30 xi William Lane Craig; Reasonable Faith, Christian Truth and Apologetics, 3 rd Edition; Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1984, 1994, 2008; p 95 xii Ibid; p 95 xiii Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms, by Stanley J. Grenz, David Guretzki, and Cherith Fee Nordling; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1999; P 86 xiv William Lane Craig; Reasonable Faith, Christian Truth and Apologetics, 3 rd Edition; Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1984, 1994, 2008; p 95 xv Ibid; p 95 xvi Ibid; pp xvii Douglas Groothuis; Christian Apologetics, A Comprehensive Case for Biblical Faith; Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2011, p 185 xviii Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms, by Stanley J. Grenz, David Guretzki, and Cherith Fee Nordling; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1999; P 7 xix Douglas Groothuis; Christian Apologetics, A Comprehensive Case for Biblical Faith; Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2011, p 185 xx Reasons for Faith, Making a Case for the Christian Faith; Norman L. Geisler and Chad V. Meister, Editors; Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2007, p 202 xxi R. C. Sproul; Defending Your Faith, An Introduction to Apologetics; Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2003, p 109 xxii Ibid; p 109 xxiii Ibid; p 110 xxiv Ibid; p 128 xxv Ibid; pp xxvi Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms, by Stanley J. Grenz, David Guretzki, and Cherith Fee Nordling; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1999; P 112 xxvii Norman L. Geisler and Ronald M. Brooks; When Skeptics Ask, A Handbook on Christian Evidences; Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1990, P 20 xxviii William Lane Craig; Reasonable Faith, Christian Truth and Apologetics, 3 rd Edition; Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1984, 1994, 2008; p 170 xxix Douglas Groothuis; Christian Apologetics, A Comprehensive Case for Biblical Faith; Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2011, p 241 xxx - 2/9/2013 xxxi Wayne Grudem; Systematic Theology, An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine; InterVarsity Press, jointly with Zondervan Publishing, 1994, P 142 xxxii Ibid; p 142 xxxiii Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms, by Stanley J. Grenz, David Guretzki, and Cherith Fee Nordling; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1999; P 80 xxxiv William Lane Craig; Reasonable Faith, Christian Truth and Apologetics, 3 rd Edition; Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1984, 1994, 2008; p 172 xxxv ESV Study Bible, English Standard Version; Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008; P 2160 xxxvi Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics, 1999 by Norman L. Geisler; Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, p